Ancient China · Ruler of Chen

Duke Ai 哀公

Ai Gong

First attested BC 569; died BC 535

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Duke Ai was a ruler of Chen.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Ruo	弱	Ruò

Life and dates

Death

BC 535 哀公三十四年
Cause Suicide · Hanging
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 106

Attested activity

BC 535 哀公三十四年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passages 105-106
BC 566 哀公三年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 100
BC 569 成公三十年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 98

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Elder Concubine of Duke Ai (長妾)
elder concubine 長妾
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 103
Spouse of Elder Wife of Duke Ai (長姬)
elder wife 長姬 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 102
Parent of Liu (留)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 103
Parent of Crown Prince Dao Shi (悼太子師)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 102
Parent of Yan (偃)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 102
Parent of Sheng (勝)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 103
Child of Duke Cheng (成公)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 98
Sibling of Zhao (招)
younger brother 弟 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 104
Spouse of Younger Concubine of Duke Ai (少妾)
younger concubine 少妾
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 103
Spouse of Younger Wife of Duke Ai (少姬)
younger wife 少姬
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 102

Kinship Role favored-concubines · Count 2
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 103

Career and standing

BC 569 成公三十年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 98

Places and affiliations

Polity Chen · Relation Ruled or served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 98

Events and relationships

Besieged then released
BC 566 哀公三年 · Military · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 100
Married from
Marriage · Groom · At Zheng 鄭
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 102

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 36Houses of Chen and Qi · 7 passages

是歲，成公卒，子哀公弱立。 In this year, Duke Cheng died, and his son Duke Ai Ruo succeeded him.

哀公三年，楚圍陳，復釋之。 In the third year of Duke Ai's reign, Chu surrounded Chen, then freed it again.

三十四年，初，哀公娶鄭，長姬生悼太子師，少姬生偃。 In the thirty-fourth year, initially Duke Ai married a woman from Zheng. His elder wife gave birth to Crown Prince Dao Shi, and his younger wife gave birth to Yan.

留有寵哀公，哀公屬之其弟司徒招。 Liu was favored by Duke Ai. Duke Ai entrusted him to his younger brother, Steward Zhao.

哀公病，三月，招殺悼太子，立留為太子。 Duke Ai was ill. In the third month, Zhao killed Crown Prince Dao and established Liu as crown prince.

哀公怒，欲誅招，招發兵圍守哀公，哀公自經殺。 Duke Ai was angered and wanted to execute Zhao. Zhao raised troops and surrounded Duke Ai, and Duke Ai hanged himself.

惠公立，探續哀公卒時年而為元，空籍五歲矣。 After Duke Hui took the throne, he retroactively counted from the year of Duke Ai's death as his first year, leaving a five-year gap in the register.